Senator Monday Okpebhelo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been given 24 hours to explain his pledge to provide insecurity if elected in the September 21 election.
During his campaign rally at Ovia-north LGA on Thursday, the APC candidate goofed while addressing the crowd.
A video shared on Facebook showed that Okpebholo made the mistake after Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, raised concerns about the security situation of the state.
Reacting to issues raised by Oshiomhole and other speakers on the podium, Okpebholo said his administration will “transform” Edo state if he wins the governorship election.
“We’re going to provide you with insecurity,” Okpebholo said as Oshiomhole, who was standing by his side signalled to him, after which the candidate corrected himself.
But in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, Imman Ekpe, national coordinator of The Edo Salvation Group (ESG), said the group was seriously bothered by the viral video showing Okpebhelo vowing to provide insecurity as governor.
Noting that it had waited days for Okpebhelo and his enablers including Oshiomhole, to deny the video, the group said that it was now satisfied that the video was apparently not a fabrication.
“Like many people in the Edo State project we were concerned about the video that showed the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo saying that he will provide insecurity to his listeners.
“Like many other stakeholders we have watched and watched the video, seen the gesticulation of Senator Oshiomhole and we are now fully convinced that the video was not a fabrication.
“We believe that this is a serious issue that must not be put aside and we truly believe that Senator Okpebhelo does not understand what he said.
“While we pardon him for his error, but it also underscores the issues before the voters going into this election. It brings to question the capacity of the candidate who has made several other gaffes including using transformers as the complete answer to electricity.
“These gaffes clearly point to the fact that Senator Okpehelo is not an option as he will either be a dummy for Oshiomhole or really provide Edo State with insecurity through his gaffes if he becomes governor through his lack of capacity.
“In the light of this, we painfully ask Senator Okpehbelo to within 24 hours go on television to explain what he meant by providing insecurity or we would come out to openly disclaim him as a candidate fit for office.”
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